NFL Draft 2023: What We Learned From Round 1 Includes Eagles Loving Georgia Players, Seahawks In Win-Now Mode

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By Webdesk


The first round of the NFL Draft was as hectic as ever, with two quarterbacks within the first two picks and three signal callers within the top-four selections. The Houston Texans moved up to No. 3 to have two of the top three picks, while seven of the top-14 picks came from the SEC.

Running backs went early and wide receivers came late. Offensive tackles were expensive and quarterbacks were ignored after No. 4. This draft was certainly unpredictable as the first round ended.

What have we learned after 31 choices? Did the smoke screens actually come out?

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Will Levis was never going to be number 2

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Perhaps the Reddit user meant round two for Levis? The Kentucky quarterback didn’t end up being number 2 overall by the Houston Texans, but he wasn’t drafted at all in the first round! What a great job by teams getting the Levis smoke screen going as bait for what they really wanted to do with regard to their plans – whether they took a quarterback or not.

By the end of the first round, it became clear that Levis was not going to go in round 1. He certainly didn’t go in the top two as the Texans had their sights set on CJ Stroud all along.

For teams like the Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders, passing Levis on in the teens was something. Team needs and lack of trades later in the draft doomed Levis, who eventually lost the only quarterback to drop out of the “big four”.

The rollback value was not as low as assumed

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The Atlanta Falcons finished back in the top-10, Bijan Robinson at No. 8. Robinson was the first running back in the top-20 since Saquon Barkley was ranked No. 2 in the overall standings in 2018, ending any speculation of Robinson would fall.

The second running back was Jahmyr Gibbs, but he went to number 12 much earlier than expected. Two running backs were caught in the top-12 for the first time since 2017 (Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey were both picked in the top-12). 10).

So much for teams that don’t make a running back high because of positional value. The best running backs were taken early, but both are expected to be very good players in the NFL.

The weak wide receiver class eventually turned out to be true – somewhat

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No wide receivers were taken in the first 19 picks, which was quite a surprise given the pre-draft hype with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Ohio State wide receiver was the first player to be filled at his position, but only at number 20 by the Seattle Seahawks.

That started with a streak of four straight wide receivers moved from No. 20 to No. 23, the first time in the regular draft era that has ever happened. The receivers went off the board, but later than expected.

After Smith-Njigba was picked, the teams quickly went in search of their pass catcher.

Lions had 20th century drafts in the 21st century

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For a team with two picks in the top-18, the Lions definitely an interesting approach. Detroit surprisingly picked running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall (after dropping from No. 6), despite David Montgomery and D’Andre Swift in their backfield.

The Lions caught linebacker Jack Campbell, the only linebacker caught in the first round. In the 1980s and 1990s, running back and linebacker was the premium this early in the draft. Those positions that are selected so early are on the backburner.

General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell defy the odds. The Lions needed some help with the linebacker, but seemed determined to run back. Keep in mind they could have had Jalen Carter at number 6.

Texans had their cake and ate it too

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Houston kept the smokescreen open like it didn’t know exactly what it was doing at No. 2. Turns out the Texans knew exactly what they were doing.

The Texans had ambitions to get an edge rusher high in the draft, but they also got their next franchise quarterback in the process. After Houston put CJ Stroud at No. 2 overall, the Texans made a huge trade with the Arizona Cardinals to trade to No. 3 and Will Anderson Jr. to select. No. 3 and grab Anderson, who gets the second best quarterback in the draft, along with arguably the best defensive player in the draft.

It seemed impossible to get a top-notch quarterback and edge rusher in this draft for Houston. The Texans have both.

Eagles got the player they always wanted — without giving up much

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The Eagles had ambitions to trade for one player in this draft. That was Jalen Carter, who only had to shove Philadelphia one spot in the draft to get – he gave up the No. 10 pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick for a player who was No. 1 on their draft board.

Philadelphia had an ambition to bring in Carter and the culture of their building would solve any problems Carter had in the design. The Eagles were impressed by Carter’s visit and are confident he will be a huge asset to the organization, reuniting him with former Georgia teammates Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis.

There was a small hole in the defensive tackle for Philadelphia. The position is now a huge strength, making up for the loss of Javon Hargrave in free agency.

Cardinals finally got the help Kyler Murray wanted

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Arizona did trade back from No. 3 overall, but moved back to No. 6 to get the offensive lineman franchise quarterback Kyler Murray always wanted. Murray reportedly wanted Paris Johnson Jr. with the Cardinals and told the organization what he thought of the best offensive lineman selected in this draft.

Murray gets more protection with Johnson, who will likely slide to either left guard or right tackle (DJ Humphries is under contract as left tackle). Johnson could complete with Kelvin Beachum on the right tackle, but the Cardinals do have an opening on guard.

Seahawk’s attack charged for Geno Smith

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The Seahawks were patient with their draft board and decided to commit to the quarterback they signed for a huge overtime instead of drafting his succession. Seattle had two chances to select Will Levis at No. 5 and No. 20 and passed both times, with the second pick resulting in an even better offense.

Seattle selected Jaxon Smith-Njigba at number 20, adding him to a wide receiver group that already has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks also have Kenneth Walker running back behind an ever-improving offensive line with Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas in the tackle spots.

The Seahawks have their young offensive core centered around their veteran quarterback. They need all the offensive weapons needed with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Eagles love Bulldogs

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Somehow Nolan Smith fell towards the end of the first round. The Eagles didn’t even have to trade for a player they wanted at number 10 (and wouldn’t have minded taking Smith there). Smith is the third Georgia player the Eagles have selected in the first round of the draft in the past two years, joining Jalen Carter (No. 9, 2023) and Jordan Davis (No. 13, 2022).

The Eagles have hired four Georgia players in the past two years, with Nakobe Dean selected in the third round last year. Dean and Carter are expected to start in the Eagles defense this year, while Smith and Davis will be part of a fraught defensive line.

Howie Roseman sure loves his Georgia players. The Eagles have piled many Georgia defensive players and Alabama offensive players over the past three years.

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Jackson became the richest quarterback in NFL history (in terms of average annual salary) before the draft began, signing his $260 million five-year extension to remain in Baltimore. The Ravens paid Jackson and then gave him another wide receiver to throw at with Zay Flowers — their second wide receiver in Round 1 in the past three years.

With the fewest yards among wide receivers last season, the Ravens added Flowers with free agent Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman. They also have Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely on the tight end.

Not only does Jackson have his money, but this might be the best group of passcatchers he’s ever had. The Ravens have made their quarterback very happy over the past two weeks.





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